SCENE IV.
Changes to the Palace.
Enter Angelo and Escalus.
Escal.
Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd
other.
Ang.
In most uneven and distracted manner. His
actions shew much like to madness; pray heaven, his
wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the
gates, and re-deliver our authorities there?
Escal.
I guess not.
Ang.
And why should we proclaim it in an hour before
his entring, that, if any crave redress of injustice,
they should exhibit their petitions in the street?
Escal.
He shews his reason for that: to have a dispatch
of complaints; and to deliver us from devices
hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand
against us.
Ang.
Well; I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd:
Betimes i' the morn 9Q0202, I'll call you at your house:
-- 130 --
Give notice to such men of sort and suit3 note,
As are to meet him.
Escal.
I shall, sir: fare you well.
[Exit.
Ang.
Good night.—
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant4 note,
And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd,
The law against it!—But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares her? no5 note
:
-- 131 --
For my authority bears a credent bulk6 note
,
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,
With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had liv'd!
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not7 note.
[Exit.
-- 132 --
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
